USS Iowa (BB-61)

USS Iowa (BB-61). Turret 2 Explosion. , Panel 1: , On April 19, 1989, a powder explosion occurred in Turret 2 while IOWA was conducting peace-time gunnery drills off the island of Viesques, Puerto Rico. Preparing to fire, the center gun's powder bags exploded before the breech was closed. The resultant fire spread throughout Turret 2 all the way down five decks below. Forty-seven Sailors lost their lives, IOWA's damage control crews responded quickly. Their efforts in fighting the fire prevented the remaining powder and projectiles inside the other two loaded guns from exploding. The turrets' magazines were flooded and the fires were extinguished in about 90 minutes. The brave and skillful actions of the crew prevented additional explosions from occurring, thus preventing the potential loss of additional crew and even the IOWA herself., Panel 2: , IN MEMORIAM , Dedicated to the brave crewmen of the USS Iowa , who lost their lives on April 19, 1989. , [Listing of Names Rates/Ranks and Hometowns], Tung Thanh Adams, Fire Controlman 3rd class [FC3], Alexandria, VA , Robert Wallace Backherms, Gunner’s Mate 3rd class [GM3][FC3], Ravenna, OH , Dwayne Collier Battle, Electrician’s Mate, Fireman Apprentice [EMFA], Rocky Mount, NC , Walter Scot Blakey, Gunner’s Mate 3rd class [GM3], Eaton Rapids, MI , Pete Edward Bopp, Gunner’s Mate 3rd class [GM3], Levittown, NY , Ramon Jaret BradshawSeaman Recruit [SR], Tampa, FL , Philip Edward Buch, Lieutenant, Junior Grade [LTjg], Las Cruces, NM , Eric Ellis Casey, Seaman Apprentice [SA], Mt. Airy, NC , John Peter Cramer, Gunner’s Mate 2nd class [GM2], Uniontown, PA , Milton Francis Devaul, Jr., Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Solvay, NY , Leslie Allen Everhart, Jr., Seaman Apprentice [SA], Cary, NC , Gary John Fisk, Boatswain’s Mate 2nd class [BM2], Oneida, NY , Tyrone Dwayne Foley, Seaman [SN], Bullard, TX , Robert James Gedeon, III, Seaman Apprentice [SA], Lakewood, OH , Brian Wayne Gendron, Seaman Apprentice [SA], Madera, CA , John Leonard Goins, Seaman Recruit [SR], Columbus, OH , David L. Hanson, Electrician’s Mate 3rd class [EM3], Perkins, SD , Ernest Edward Hanyecz, Gunner’s Mate 1st class [GM1], Bordentown, NJ , Clayton Michael Hartwig, Gunner’s Mate 2nd class [GM2], Cleveland, OH , Michael William Helton, Legalman 1st class [LN1], Louisville, KY , Scott Alan Holt, Seaman Apprentice [SA], Fort Meyers, FL , Reginald L. Johnson, Jr., Seaman Recruit [SR], Warrensville Heights, OH , Nathaniel Clifford Jones, Jr., Seaman Apprentice [SA], Buffalo, NY , Brian Robert Jones, Seaman [SN], Kennesaw, GA , Michael Shannon Justice, Seaman [SN], Matewan, WV , Edward J. Kimble, Seaman [SN], Ft. Stockton, TX , Richard E. Lawrence, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Springfield, OH , Richard John Lewis, Fire Controlman, Seaman Apprentice [FCSA], Northville, MI , Jose Luis Martinez Jr., Seaman Apprentice [SA], Hidalgo, TX , Todd Christopher McMullen, Boatswain’s Mate 3rd class [BM3], Manheim, PA , Todd Edward Miller, Seaman Recruit [SR], Ligonier, PA , Robert Kenneth Morrison, Legalman 1st class [LN1], Jacksonville, FL , Otis Levance Moses, Seaman [SN], Bridgeport, CN , Darin Andrew Ogden, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Shelbyville, IN , Ricky Ronald Peterson, Seaman [SN], Houston, MN , Mathew Ray Price, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Burnside, PA , Harold Earl Romine, Jr., Seaman Recruit [SR], Brandenton, FL , Geoffrey Scott Schelin, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GMG3], Costa Mesa, CA , Heath Eugene Stillwagon, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Connellsville, PA , Todd Thomas Tatham, Seaman Recruit [SR], Wolcott, NY , Jack Ernest Thompson, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Greenville, TN , Stephen J. Welden, Gunner’s Mate 2nd class [GM2], Yukon, OK , James Darrell White, Gunner’s Mate 3nd class [GM3], Norwalk, CA , Rodney Maurice White, Seaman Recruit [SR], Louisville, KY , Michael Robert Williams, Boatswain’s Mate 2nd class [BM2], Shore, KY , John Rodney Young, Seaman [SN], Rockhill, SC , Reginald Owen Ziegler, Senior Chief Gunners Mate [GMCS], Port Gibson, NY, . ”Eternal Father, strong to save, , Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, , Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep , Its own appointed limits keep: , Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, , For those in peril on the sea!”. , [Seal of the U.S. Department of the Navy] , [Seal of the USS IOWA [BB-61]..